Gear shift lever switch



June 18, 1935. R. R. sucKY ET AL GEAR SHIFT LEVER SWITCH Filed Aug. 3, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 18, 1935. R, R SUCKY ET AL 2,005,483

GEAR SHIFT LEVER SWITCH F l g- 5, 1954 2 Sheets-sheet 2 NEUTRAL Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEAR SHIFT LEVER SWITCH Application August 3,

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to signalling systems for automobiles, and more specifically to a switch mechanism associated with the gear shifting mechanism of the automobile for operating such systems.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient switch mechanism for operating an electrical signalling system, preferably located on the rear of an automobile, whereby a motorist approaching from the rear may be informed whether the automobile is moving or at a standstill, and, if moving, whether in a forward or backward direction, and the approximate speed of forward travel, the signal being transmitted by the illumination of se lective colored lights.

With these and other objects in view, reference is herein had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the operating switch showingthe same attached to one form of gear shifting lever construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2,

Fig. 4;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the associated electrical wiring connections; and

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the switch somewhat reduced.

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral I designates one form of gear shift lever used on automobiles, the lower end of which is enclosed within a metal housing 2. -Parallel shifting rods 3 and 4 which carry the shifting forks (not shown) are located at opposite sides of the housing and are adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly during the operation of gear shifting, the rod 3 being moved forwardly a limited distance when in high gear and being moved rearwardly when in second gear. Likewise, the shifting rod 4 is moved forwardly when in low gear and is moved rearwardly when in reverse gear.

The operating switch is housed within a rectangular casing comprising a bottom 5, side walls 6 and end walls 1, preferably made of an appropriate insulating material. In use, the easing may also be provided with a suitable top closure so as to completely encase the hereinafter described elements from dust, grease and other objectionable matter.

Permanently fitted within the angle between the bottom 5 and each of the side walls 6 of the casing are rectangularly shaped insulated men;

1934, Serial No. 738,248 (Cl. 200-59) bers 8, while a larger block of insulation material 9 is permanently positioned in the center of the casing, the members 8 and 9 being so spaced from each other to provide a pair of spaced parallel grooves III. While the members 8 and 9 are herein shown and described as being separate elements, it will be understood that they may readily be formed integrally with the casing.

Adapted for longitudinal sliding movements in 10 said grooves ID are two contact carrying elements II and I2. Each of said elements II and I2 is composed of a rectangularly shaped bar of insulation material having rods I3 protruding outward from each of the opposite ends thereof 15 and extending outwardly of the casing through openings provided therefor in the end walls I, one end of each of said rods being externally screw threaded to be received by internal threads provided in the shifting rods 3 and 4, as shown 20 in Fig. 2. In this manner, the switch is connected to the gear shifting mechanism to be operated by the latter.

The sliding element I2 has therein two spaced vertical bores lined with a copper bushing in 25 which spring pressed carbon contacts I4 and. I5 are retained, the lower ends of said carbon contacts contacting the bottom 5 of the casing on the upper surface thereof. A length of copper I6, or a strip of other appropriate current con- 30 ducting material, is fastened to the upper surface of the element I2 overlying and communicating with the contact I4, while a shorter length of current conducting material l1, as copper, spaced a distance away from the strip I6, over- 35 lies and communicates with the carbon contact I5.

Likewise, the slidable element II is vertically bored and lined with a bushing intermediate its opposite ends to house a similar spring pressed 0 carbon contact I8, a flat strip of current conducting material IS, as copper, being fastened to the upper face of the element II and communicating with the carbon contact I8, said strip I9 being substantially L-shaped having a transverse arm portion 20 terminating in an overlying contacting position with the strip I! of the element I2.

Downturned springs 2| and 22 have their free ends overlying and frictionally engaging the flat metal strips I6 and I9, respectively, the opposite ends of the springs being permanently attached to and supported by a metal cross bar 23 extending transversely of the switch casing adjacent one end thereof.

.red lightceases to be illuminated and A plurality of terminals 24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29 are provided on the under side of the bottom of the casing to which are attached electrical conductors, as will hereinafter be fully explained. As will be understood following a study of the drawings, the terminals 25, 26 and 2t are in horizontally aligned and spaced relation beneath the sliding element l2, said terminals at their upper ends havingcountersunk heads positioned interiorly of the casing and whichserve as contact points. The terminals 23 and 29 occupy horizontally aligned and spaced relation beneath the sliding element ll, these last mentioned terminals also having countersunk heads at their upper ends to function in the capacity of contact points. The terminal 24 has an elongated vertically extending shank whose upper end connects to the metal cross bar 23.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, each of the terminals 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29 are connected by electrical conductors in a predetermined electrical circuit to a specific signalling device, as an electric lamp, mounted on the rear of the vehicle. For instance, the terminal 25 is connected to a green colored signal lamp; the terminal 26 is connected to a blue signal; the terminal 21 is connected to a red signal; the terminal 28 is con nected to the same blue signal as the terminal 25 by reason of being in the same circuit, the terminals 28 and 26 being in a common circuit by the provision of the connector 36, and the terininal 29 is connected to a yellow signal. The

f colored signals may consist either of colored electric lamps or they may be clear lamps designed. to have the light therefrom refracted through colored lenses. In any event, the various signals are carried within an ornamental casing 3i, which latter is suitably grounded.

As shown in the drawings, the gear shift lever is positioned in the neutral position. In such po sition, the sliding contact carrying elements occupy' what might be termed normal position whereby the carbon contact If: registers with the terminal 21. Assuming that an electric current is supplied to the terminal 24, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the current flows through the cross bar 23, spring 22, metal strip 20'to the separated metal strip ll of the sliding element I2, from whence the current flows through the carbon contact l5 and terminal 21 to the red signal for serving as an ordinary tail light to denote that the'car is at a standstill, the red signal being the sole visible signal.

When, however, the gear shift lever is moved to low gear position, as when forward travel is commenced, forward movement of the shifting rod 4 causes a like forward movement of the sliding element l l to so position its carbon contact 58 in register with the terminal 28 leading to and thereby illuminating the blue signal. Such movement of the sliding element H it will be noted moves the transverse arm 2!! out of con tacting relation with the strip ll, breaking that particular circuit so that as a consequence the v I the blue light alone is illuminated to denote that the automobile is traveling forward in low gear.

Upon shifting to second gear, the sliding element I l is returned to its normal position and the element 12 is moved rearwardly with the rearward movement of the shifting rod 3 to a position where the carbon contact i l registers with the terminal 26. In such position, the blue signal continues to be illuminated, the electrical current in this instance flowing from the crossbar 23 to l9 and transverse arm the metal strip Hi through the spring conductor 2 I. It will be noted that in the second gear position, the carbon contact I5 is brought out of register with the terminal 21 so that the red signal continues to be invisible.

In shifting to high gear, the sliding element is moved to its forward limit wherein the carbon contact i l registers with the terminal 25 for illuminating the green signal. Again the red signal remains invisible because the carbon contact is in non-registering relation to the terminal 21.

When the gear shift lever is moved to reverse position, the sliding element I2 is maintained in its normal position and the element H is moved rearwardly to position the carbon contact l8 of said element in register with the terminal 29, in which position the yellow signal is illuminated. In this latter described position, the arm 20 is out of contact with the metal strip 11 so that current is not supplied thereto and the red signal isnot illuminated.

From the above description, it will be readily understood that but one signal is rendered visible at any one time, the signal system being controlled automatically by the positioning of the gear shift lever. Particular attention is called to the fact that the red neutral signal can only receive current through the switch mechanismjdescribed by means of the arm 20 and isolated strip ll. Qnly in neutral position can these two'elemerits be found in contacting current conducting relation.

The switch mechanism described is operative utilized in this instance as a rear warning or tail-light. The system is rendered inoperative when parking lights are illuminated for the reason that in some instances it is advisable to permit the automobile to remain in gear, as when parked on an inclined highway.

The ordinary stop light to be illuminated upon depression of the foot brake pedal 33 of the automobile is accorded a conspicuous space in the casing 3|.

While we have herein shown and described one means of connecting the switch to the shifting forks, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this specific manner of attachment and location inasmuch as it is contemplated to otherwise accomplish connection due to varying types and constructions of gear shifting apparatus being used on various makes of automobiles.

What is claimed isl. A gear shift lever switch for use with automobile signal systems, including a casing having spaced upwardlyiacing parallel grooves in the bottom wall thereof, a plurality of spaced contacts in each of said grooves, aslidable switch element in one oi'said grooves having a pair of spaced contacts adapted for engagement with the contacts of said groove, a second slidable switch element in the other of said grooves having a single contact adapted to engage the contacts of said groove, a conducting element connected to the last named single contact and having a part thereof engaging one of the contacts carried by the other of said slidable switch elements, a pair of spaced contacts carried by the casing above the switch elements one of which is adapted to engage the conducting element of the first mentioned slidable switch element while the other is engaged with one of the pair of contacts carried by the first named switch element, and means connecting the gear shift lever with said slidable switch elements whereby to selectively engage each of the latter with their associated spaced contact elements when the shift lever is moved to varying positions.

2. A gear shift lever switch for use with automobile signal systems, including a casing having spaced upwardly facing parallel grooves in the bottom wall thereof, a plurality of spaced contacts in each of said grooves, a slidable switch element in one of said grooves having a pair of spaced contacts adapted for engagement with the contacts in said groove, a second slidable switch element in the other of said grooves having a single contact adapted to engage the contacts in said groove, a conducting element connected to the last named single contact and having a part thereof engaging one of the contacts carried by the other of said slidable switch elements, a pair of spaced contacts carried by the casing above the switch elements, one of which is adapted to engage the conducting element while the other is engaged with one of the pair of contacts carried by the first named switch element, and means connecting the gear shift lever with said slidable switch elements including a pair of rods, each having an end adapted for connection to a shifting rod of the gear shifting mechanism and each having an end connected to one of the switch elements whereby to selectively engage each of the latter with their associated spaced contact elements when the shift lever is moved to varying positions.

RUDOLPH R. SUCKY.

EDWARD F. McGONIGAL.

EDGAR BARGAR. 

